Corn husking and silking machine.



J. H. OHARA.

001m 'HUSKING AND SILKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 11, 1911.

Patehted Jan. 23, 1912.

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' APPLICATION FILED PEB.11, 1911. 1 ,()1 5,740, Patented Jan. 23, 1912.

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" CORN 'HUSKING AND SILKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 11, 1911.

Patented Jan. 23; 1912.

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APPLICATION r'rLnn FEB. 11, 1911.

\ Patented Jan.23, 1912.

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3m OZia/rw lnfllvuixlilllil no JOHN H. OHARA, OF ITHACA, NEW YORK.

' CORN HUSKING AND SILKING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 23, 1912.

Application filed February 11, 1911. Serial No. 608,070.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. OHARA,

citizen of the United States. residing at Ithaca, in the county of Tompkins and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corn Husking and Silking Machines, of which the following is a s wciiication.

This in vcntion relates to machines for removing the husks and the silk from green corn prior to its removal from the cob in canning operations, and has for one of its objects to improve the construction and increase the efiiciency and utility of devices of this character.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simply constructed device whereby the ears of corn are relieved of the surplus husk at the silk end of the ear together with the major portion of the silk, severing the butt end of the cars including the butt ends of the husks, shredding the ears of their husks and relieving the ears of the remaining silk]? Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which may be employed for shucking or removing the ears from the stalks. husking the severed ears, and removing the silk therefrom, .or for simply husking and silking them, as may be required.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereinafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out in the-claims.

The husking or stripping portion of the improved apparatus is in the form of an attachment which may readily be applied when required, so that the improved device may be quickly arranged for use in the field or in the cannery. as may be required, and without making any change in the husking and silking portions of the apparatus.

The improved apparatus, as above stated,.

may be employedfor removing the husks and silk after the ears have been removed from the stalks or for first shucking and removing the ears from the stalks, preferably in the field where the corn is gathered. and then husking and silking the severed cars, and may .be arranged with one or more silk-removing portions For the purpose of illustration the apparatus is shown arranged with the shuck-' ing mechanismattached and with two independent sets of husk and silk removing mechanisms, but it will be understood that any required number of the husking and silking portions of the device may be employed in each machine.

In the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved apparatus complete or arranged for employment in a canning establishment; Fig. 2 is a sectional detail of the silk end cutting device, with the table and fly Wheel removed; ,Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 1-4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a side elevation from the drive side; Fig. 6 is an enlarged section'al detail of the silk end cutting mechanism; Fig. 7 is an enlarged section of the stripping rolls on the line 7-7 of Fig. 1; Fig. 8 is an enlarged section'of the silking portion of the rolls on-the line 88 of Fig. 4; Fig. 9 is a sectional detail on the line 99 of Fig. 4; illustrating the arrangement of the trap door devices; Fig. 10 is a plan view of the feed end, illustrating theconstruction of the stalk. cutting attachment; and Fig. 11 is a section on the line 10--10 of Fig. 10.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the accompanying drawings by the same reference characters.

The improved device comprises a main supporting frame, represented as a Whole at 10, and constructed of any suitable material and any suitable size, but is preferably formed of metal and as light as possible consistent with the strains to which it will be subjected. At its rear upper part the frame 10 is provided with a lateral extension 11 carrying a shaft 12 at its outer end, while 'a similar shaft 13'is carried by the main frame at its rear upper part. The shaft 12 is provided with a hollow shaft or sleeve 40 carrying chain pulleys 14, while the shaft 13 is provided with chain pulleys 15, the two sets of pulleys carrying endless chains 16. The links of the chains are provided at intervals with lugs or projections 17 connected by cross rods 18, the whole constituting an endless carrier to feed the ears of corn to the severing mechanism, as hereinafter described. Mounted for rotation upon the frame 10 near its lower part is a main d1'ive,shaft,19 carrying a belt pulley 20. The shaft 19 is rotated in any suitable manner, but for the purpose of illustration is shown provided with a drive puley 21 which will be actuated by any suitable power. The

shaft 13 is provided with a chain wheel 24 rearwardly of the frame and over which an endless chain 25 leads from a chain -wh'eel 26 on themain drive shaft-19. By this means the motion of the shaft 19 is imparted to the drive belt at a reduced speed. Mounted for rotation upon the extension frame 11' is another shaft 27 which carries a saw-like cutting blade 28 operative inside the frame extension 11 and provided at its outer end with a belt pulley 29, over which an endless belt 30 leads from the pulley 20, as shown. Connected t6 the side-members of the frame extensionhis a transverse bar or member 31 which serves both as a guard to the saw and as a sup ort for a spring plate 32, the latter being ocated above the carrier and serving to'hold the-ears of corn as they are 'passed,by the. endless belt to the cutting member 28 and to prevent their vertical displacement, as hereafter explained.

- The spring 32 is connected adjustably to the support 31 by a clamp screw 33 operating in a slot'34 in the member 31. By this means the spring maygbeadjusted to correspond to the lengths and sizes of'the ears of corn. I

Connected to the side. members of the frame extension 11 and abovethe carrier are guard rods- 35-36,-' which serveto prevent the lon 'tudinal displacement of" the ears of corn. onnected to the guard 36;,is a resilient plate 37 which extends obliquely of the enough to carryboth. belts 23-30.

the shaft 12 is a rotary cuttilig member 42' whose cutting edge operates over the stationary cutting edge 41.-' The cutting mem bers 4142 are located adjacent to the chain wheels 14 of, the sleeve 40,. and detachably mounted u on the frame extension 11 by keepers 39 1s a platform 43 which supports the ears in position to be acted upon by the cutter devices 4142. to sever the surplus 'portion'of the husks at the silk .endand like wise to sever the major portion of the silk 7 prior to the action ofthe severing blade 28.

Connected to the platform 43 is an adjustable and yieldable deflect-ing plate 44 which serves ,to bend the loose surplus portion of the husks over the ends of the ear to bring them in position to be acted upon more completely-by the severing devices 4142. A fly-Wheel 45 is connected to the shaft 12 to assist in the operation and to insure the 42. When-the improved device is employed in a field, or for shucking the corn prior to the husking and silking operations, the platform 43 is detached and another platform 38 is detachably connected to the frame extension 11 by the same keepers 39. The construction and arrangement of this latter Mounted for rotation in the -platform38 is another shaft 46 carrying a plurality of hooked teeth or blades 48 Which operate 46 is so arranged that when revolved the teeth 48 pass upwardly through the slots, the sides of the slots serving as shear plates to the blades. By this means an effectual cutting device is produced which serves to sever stalks into short len ths preliminary to feeding or packing in si os,.or for'like purposes. The shaft 46 ispreferably provided with a fly-wheel 51 to insure steadiness 'of motion, and likewise provided with a belt pulley 52 from which a belt 53 leads from the pulley 22 on the shaft 12, so that motion is imparted. to the stalk severing and shucking mechanism.

Connected to-the. frame 10 and its. extension 11 is a table 54 over which the carriers corn during their forward movement. ;A platform 95 is located beneath the car'r'er chains 16 and suitably supported from he rame 10-11 .by a brace 96, and with which are lugs 17 engage and which thus supports the under rims of the chains. The upper ends of the husking mechanismsare located beneath the platform 95 and a hopper 55 is arranged above each of the husking. mechanisms at their feed ends, and in the drawings two of the husking mechanisms are shown, and consequently two of the hoppers are also shown. Each hooper55 is provided at its upper end with a closure 56 which is hlngedly' connected at one side at 57 so .that

the hopper. The closure 56 of the hoppers are arranged to be tilted at certain predetermined intervals to permit the corn to be fed by the carrier into the hoppers, and Where two sets'of the husking mechanisms ternatel in the hoppers, and where three of the hus in mechanisms are employed each hopper will be arranged to receive each third ear and so on, as will be obvious, so that eachhuskingmechanism receives' the sane number of ears as the operation procee s.

steadiness of action of the cutting member platform is shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

through slots 49 in the platform. -The shaft 7 operate and which supports the ears of the closure may be tilted downwardly into the stalks at short intervals and release the ears, while at the same time cutting the v are employed the ears will be deposited al- .as they are passed over, but will yield to wardly of the carrier, and the spurs nearest chain 70 which is arranged to be rotated 99 front the frame 10.

jections 114 will not engage the projection. 50. Thus the projections 58 trip each alternate closure, while the projections 11 1, trip the other alternate closures. By this means each alternate car only is deposited in the first hopper, and the remaining alternate ears deposited in the second hopper. The closures will be provided with springs 07 of sutficientstreiigth to maintain them'against the weight of the ears of corn the pressure applied to the projections 58 50, andwill then he -1'est-ored automatically to their closed position by the springs.

The husking or stripping mechanisms are precisely alike and the description of one will sutlice for both. Each husking mechanism comprises two lnain shafts ti0($1 mounted for rotation in inclined position upon the frame 10 in suitable bearings, with the bearings 02. for the shaft 60 provided with yieldable means such as springs 63, so that the shafts are maintained in yieldable relations. The shaft 60 is provided with a drum 04, while the shaft 61 is provided with a similar drum 65. The drum 64 is provided with a series of sockets 06 arranged spirally, while the drum 65 is provided with projecting studs or spurs 7 likewise arranged spirally and adapt xl to consecutively enter the sockets, each of the sockets being provided with its correspond ing spur, so that. as the two drums are 'rotated toward each other the spurs consecutively enter the sockets. The sockets are so arranged that the spurs roll through the sockets without undue friction. The sockets G6 terminate at their upper ends forthe upper end are relatively sharp and are gradually formed? with rounded or dulled terminals toward the lower series of spurs. The lower portion of the drum ('15 is pro vided with a, plurality. of spirally. arranged grooves ,or channels (38 and the drum 05 is provided with correspondingly arranged brushes G9 which are. adapted to enter the grooves 68 as the drums art: rotated to ard each other.

Mounted for rotation ,alongside of and partly over each roller 61 is an endless through bevel gears 71 72 from a shaft 98 which is supported by suitable brackets I The chains are provided with lingers 100 which operate through the hoppers 55, each hopper being provided with one of the chains and over the space between each pair of the rolls. so that as the ear of corn is dropped int the hopper by tilting the closure 5t}. as before described, the car will he coiulucted by the fingers of the chain into the space between the drum0105. and there acted upon by the spurs and sockets to produce the husk- .ing action, as hereinafter explained.

.-\t its forward end the shaft 11 is provided with a gear pinion 7E5 co-actiug with a gear 71 upon a countcrshat't 75 which is mounted for rotation upon the lower end of the frame 10. The shafts ti0--t1 are provided at their forward ends with gear pinions 76-77 which engage with gear wheels 7870 upon the shaft 75. By this means it will be obvious that the motion of. the shaft 19 is imparted to the shafts (XL-(S1, the drums 04 (35, and the endless carrier 70.

Located upon the frame-10 at the lower end of the drums (sh-(35 is a shield 80 which extends over the gears 78 79 and protects the latter and conducts the'husked and silked ,ears from the machine, as hereinafter explained. Supported upon the frame 10 beneath the severing, husking and silking mechanisms are drums 81 over which an endless belt of canvas or like material 82 is conducted.

Supported from the platform 43 are hang- -ers 83 carrying a drum 101, while. another drum 102 is carried by the frame 10 above one of the drums 81', the latter. drmn car rying an inclined carrier belt 103. The shaft of one of the drums 81 carries a cord pulley 104, while a similar cord'pulley is carried by the shaft. of the drum 102, the two cord pulleys being arranged to receive an endless cord 106 whereby the motion of the drums 81 are communicated to the belt 103.

'The shaft 75 is provided with a chain Wheel 107 over which a chain 108 leads to a chain wheel 100 on the shaft 98, whereby the motion is imparted to the chains 70. The shaft 98 is provided with a cord pulley 110 over which a cord belt 111 leads to a cord pulley 112 on the shaft of one of the drums 81, being conducted in its passage over idler guide pulleys 113, whereby motion is imparted to the belts S8 and 103.

The belts 103 and 82 it will be noted oper-- erably extended to engage in close contact I portions, a receiver for each of said striprolls.

ducting ears of corn consecutively from said carrier to sa1d receivers, guard bars located as low as possible consistent with the action of the spurs 67, while the portion 91 is prefwith the drum. The two portions 9091 thus serve as an effectual. scraper to prevent the husks and the silk from engaging upon the rolls and clogging the same, and likewise to prevent the roll 64 from becoming gummed or clogged from the juices which may fall from the soft ears of corn. By this means the rollers are kept clear from obstruction and prevented from becoming clogged when in operation. The floor 95 is'provided with a curved guide plate 92 to conduct the cars from the upper side of the'carrier to the floor and thence to the hoppers.

Havin thus described myinvention, What is claime as new is:

1. A sup orting frame, an endless carrier upon said rame, stripping and silking devices associated with said carrier, said strip ping and'silking devices comprising rollers havlng spirally arranged spurs and sockets upon one portion and spirally arranged channels and brushes upon the remaining portions, a receiver for each of said stripping and silking devices, and means-l for conducting ears of corn consecutively from said carrier to said receivers.

2. A supporting frame, an endless carrier upon said frame,- strippingand silking devices associated with said carrier, said stripping and 'silking devices comprising rollers aving spirally arranged spurs and sockets upon one portion and spirallyarranged channels and brushes upon the remaining ping and silking devicesymeans for conabove said rollers and extending longitutlt nally of the same, and a plate connected to one of said guard bars and extending into close relations to the adjacent roller at opposite sides ofthe center thereof and constituting a scraper to prevent the clogging of the 31 A supporting frame,stripping and silking devices associated with said frame, said stripping and silking devices comprising a pair of rollers, one of the rollers havlng spirally arranged spurs upon one portion spurs and a spirally arranged channel to reccive the brushes, said spurs and sockets 1 co-acting to strip the husks from the ears and the brushes and channel co-acting to remove thesilk from the ears.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, a hopper for the ears .to be stripped, apair of rollers arranged to receive the cars from the hopper, one of the rollers having spirally arranged spurs upon one portion and spirally arranged brushes upon the other portion, and the other roller having spirally arranged sockets to receive the spurs and a spirally arranged channel to receive the j brushes, and a flexible member having a plurality of lateral fingers spaced apart and mounted for movement above said rollers and operating to move the ears longitudinally of the same,

5. In an apparatus of the class described,

a hopper for the ears to be stripped, a {pair r m of rollers arranged to receive the ears the hopper, one of the rollers having spirally arranged spurs upon one portion and spirally arranged brushes upon the other portion, and the other roller having spirally arranged sockets to receive the spurs and a spirally arranged channel to receive the brushes, a flexible member having a plurality of lateral fingers spaced apart and mounted for movement above said rollers and operating to move the earslongitudinally of the same, and a combined guard and scraper partially covering the roller having the sockets.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, a pair of stripping rolls arranged'to receive the ears of corn, one of the rollers having spirally arranged spurs increasing in blunt- ,ness from the feed toward the discharge end,.and the other roller having spirally arranged sockets to receive the spurs. 7 In an apparatus of the class described,

a pair of stripping rollers arrangedto re- ,100

Come the ears of corn, one of the rollers havl ing spurs spaced apart and spirally arranged longitudinally thereof with the spur nearest to the feed end of the roller-havlng a sharp point and the remaining spurs gradually decreasing in sharpness from the feed toward the discharge end, and theother roller having spirally arranged sockets respectively receive the spurs;

In testimony whereoffl aiiix my signature-1 10 I in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN H. OHARA. [Ls] Witnesses:

. RAYMOND L. SMITH,

E. G. HANcE. 

